Shadowmage

1. Midpeak

Chapter 1 Midpeak“Honestly, me thinks, if not killing her, at the least it caused her moral compass ta shift.”

“It’s not just a moral shift; the evil is corrupting her heart. Her soul.” Willow was in tears.

“Speak of the devil herself,” Penn said, “Here she comes.”

“I have need of some iron castoffs.”

“Over there, Lady M,” Penn pointed to a large pile of scrap.

Mithavan’ara-Khan rummaged briefly through the pile, then walked away without another word.

“Be a good day to ya as well, young mage, bah!” Penn thumbed his nose.

“You see it’s worse.” Through the tears, Willow said, “She doesn’t spend any time with anyone except Aurora.”

Rollin said, “I fear our young friend’s path no longer has room for family.”

“Me be thinkn it might be time for everyone to go their separate ways. I fear our little band be no more.” Penn lifted himself off the stool and walked into his shop, leaving Rollin and Willow together to ponder the future.

• • •

The war had raged on for three years with neither side gaining an advantage for long. The Orcs would push their way across the Blackwater River only to have the paladins and their allies drive them back a few days later. Nowadays, it was mostly a stalemate. The lines were drawn in the same spot as they had started. Battles in the field now were nonexistent. All the combat was now behind the scenes. It was combat filled with deception and espionage.

The war the Orcs started, known now as the Clan Wars, had engulfed all the western kingdoms. The exception was the far north where the barbarian tribes took advantage of the ice and cold to keep the creatures at bay. There was no war in the east, but those realms had still been affected. Many of the western trade routes were gone. And there had been many refugees spilling into the east.

The landscape in the west had changed in both topography and in its soul. What was once a thriving agricultural land where you could live in relative peace had now become a war torn zone of pain, blood, and misery. Traveling south of the Blackwater River was nothing short of suicide. That area and all the Wastelands now fell under Orc rule.

Lands north of the Blackwater were not much better. There were several strongholds of safety, such as Winterrock, home of the Knights of the Rose, and Ironspell and Nuxvar, protected by the Red Robes. The City of Silver, Home of the Elves, was now closed to all outsiders, as was Veghdorahl, kingdom of the Sapphire Dwarves. If you were not in any of those cities then you were fair game to the multitude of bandits, cutthroats, or worse.

Penn, Willow, Rollin, Aurora, and Lacey had stayed out of the Clan wars. Yes, there were skirmishes that they were caught in or ‘errands’ they were asked to do for the Iron League. But the group made a concerted effort to stay out of the Blood Clan’s agenda.

The small band of heroes made a home-away-from-home in Midpeak, a small village and one of the remaining trade routes still active.

They thought it made sense. It was halfway between the western and eastern kingdoms and its location made it easy to fortify and defend.

The quintet had settled comfortably into a family unit, of sorts, although they could not be more different in appearance and temperament from one another. Penn took on the patriarchal role for the group, giving advice and looking out for everyone. Willow assumed the role of the matriarch, healing wounds and worrying about each of them. Rollin was like a big brother to Lacey, sometimes helpful, sometimes not. And Aurora was like a little sister. Even though she was over seventy years old, because she was a Drow, and had a lifespan of seven hundred years, she was still just a teenager. They all did their best to keep a cohesive group, but Lacey found it stifling and spent most of her time alone.

In Midpeak, the five were celebrities of sorts. They had spent much of their time and a wealth of gold crowns aiding people with problems and helping keep up the defenses. Rollin had been most helpful with the latter. Schooled in the Knights of the Rose he was an expert tactician and lent his skill and experience in training the local militia. Willow and Penn spent much of their time helping the townsfolk as well. Willow had become indispensable, with healing and ministering, as the hordes of refugees poured through the pass each month and Penn had a fix-it shop next to the blacksmith.

As a wizard, and someone new to large-scale wars, Lacey was not much help to Midpeak or the refugees. She spent much of her time away from town. She was looking for answers about M’illaskavar, the Shadow Staff—and brooding what to do about her missing parents.

There was a city named Shadestar in the east of Xenkur, on the coast of the Green Sea. It had a library and helpful scholars bent on finding the answers Lacey wanted. So far, the information was bits and pieces, but she learned more on every visit. She used the staff to Shadow Walk as often as possible. Lacey found that it was easier if she had already visited the place. If she had seen the place where she was going, the Shadow Walk could be accurate to within a foot's length. Lacey had cast the spell so many times she could now Shadow Walk without all the ceremony. It was now a simple matter of concentrating on where she wanted to go and in a blink, she was there. Aurora spent much her time following Lacey around. She said it was for protection. Lacey believed it was because Aurora felt a lot like her. Neither of them thought they fit into the group or the mainstream of society. It was true of Aurora even more so because the world in which she was raised was different from the one she lived in now.

Their life in Midpeak had its greatest effect and largest benefit for Rollin. When they first met him years ago in that lonely cabin in the woods, Rollin Ayymon was a drunk. He had been cast out of the Knights of the Rose. And to fill that void and deal with the shame, he occupied himself with pain, anger, and booze. Here in Midpeak he was a changed man. Rollin was not reinstated in the order, but didn’t care about that anymore. He was enjoying his role as protector and helper to the people of Midpeak. He smiled often, laughed often, and after the first night in town, not once had he stepped into any taverns.

There had not been any more murder attempts on Lacey over the years. The group still didn’t know who had put the bounty on her head. Aurora was wise to give Lacey a new name. She sometimes laughed, thinking about all the evil that was out there searching for Lacey Darkwater when she had not gone by that name in years. Now she always introduced herself as Mithavan’ara-Khan meaning ‘Death Shadow’. After all, Lacey had always wanted a better title and this one was impressive.

The problem with Lacey’s vision had grown worse. Every time she used the magic of the staff, her vision became worse. The more of the magic she used, the worse the effects and the longer they lasted. Sometimes her vision was so bad she had to wear a silk blindfold across her eyes to help keep out the bright light. Bright light caused severe pain and led to horrible headaches. Willow did what she could to help Lacey, but so far, she could not reverse the effects. The vision problem did not occur when Shadow Walking, only when Lacey used the staff’s magic for combat or defense.

Over the years, Lacey made several half-hearted tries to find her parents. Now with the Clan Wars it was even harder. There were so many refugees from so many burned and looted villages. Most of them headed east with no clear path to where they were going. It was like finding a needle in a haystack. Lacey’s brother might know something, but she had yet to search for him. She didn’t feel emotionally ready for a meeting with her brother.

The day was beautiful again in Midpeak. The air was crisp. A northern breeze blew down off the mountains. Looking over the timber wall that now blocked off passage to the western kingdoms you could see smoke in the distance, probably from the looting and pillaging of another settlement. Lacey left her room on the west side of the pass and walked down the stairs carved into the mountainside to the Blacksmiths. Penn’s fix-it shop was connected to the smithy as they shared the coal-burning furnace.

Penn was the young mage’s oldest friend, having met him years ago in the Darkwood forest. But she had grown apart from him as well. Penn was in his usual morning spot, perched outside his shop on a wooden stool tinkering with some contraption.

“Lady M, what brings you to my shop today?” Penn lowered his head in a bowing motion. He had started calling her Lady M after the new name. Something he began as a joke, now he had taken to doing it at every greeting.

“Boredom.”

Penn did his best to keep the mood between them light. “Be seein’ the strain on yur face. What ya need is work. Work be what makes life wort livin.”

“I thought it was adventure that made it worth living.”

“That be true, for many young folk, but fir Tinkers it's work that be settin us free.”

“I am still young folk! I’ll be twenty-eight come winter.”

“Tis true ya be young in body. But me seen these last few months an age in yur heart that pains me.”

He continued, “There be somethin that weigh heavy on yur spirit. I know not what. Ya must release ta weight fore’n it crushes ya.”

“There are still many unanswered questions in my life.” Lacey craddled one of Penn’s inventions not knowing what it was. “No matter how hard I try I cannot find the answers.”

“I understan,” He took the gadget from her and held Lacey’s hand, “Not havin the answers ya seek be a great burden. Tis not easy dealing wit unknown.”

“I was thinking it may be time to find my brother.”

Penn didn't say anything, he just nodded. They had had this conversation many times. The young mage left Penn’s shop feeling better about herself and she felt like it was time to start getting answers to her unanswered questions.

• • •

The people of Midpeak had been generous with the heroes. The leaders of the town had given each of them a place to live, reward for helping keep the community safe. And they gave Penn, Rollin and Willow jobs to help Midpeak stay alive and even possibly thrive during these dark days. Neither Aurora nor Lacey were given jobs. They didn’t give Aurora a job because she’s a Drow and they did not trust her or because what she does for a living is vile in their senses. Lacey was not sure why they didn’t give her any job. Her guess, unless you’re a part of the war machine, there isn’t a great call for wizards.

The young mage’s cozy little nook was above an arcane shop called ‘Cures and Curses’. It was originally a storeroom that had been converted into living quarters. She would sometimes watch the store for Birinus Greenhill, the owner. He was an elderly Halfling who had lived in Midpeak most of his life. He was full of information on the town and the people in it. Lacey and Birinus spent many nights in his shop discussing magic and the residents of the town.

In the beginning, he was helpful in learning about the Shadow Staff. But his knowledge was limited, so Lacey would need to seek another source. Although he knew little of the staff itself, he had at one time had a Doom Staff at his store. As far as Birinus knew, only four Doom Staffs were ever created. But they work much as Lacey’s staff did. Perhaps the creators of the Doom Staffs took information from M’illaskavar to help in their creations.

Lacey would bring items to the old Halfling that she bought in the Eastern Kingdoms in exchange for information or spell ingredients he had. Birinus and she had developed a solid friendship. And she felt like she could talk to him without fear of judgment. That was not the case when Lacey expressed herself to Rollin or Willow. The young mage thought they still saw her as a child and without enough experience to be a true leader, even though over these few years she had saved their hides more than once.

It was the month of Sept’m, Lacey’s favorite time of the year when the temperatures were not too hot or cold. The ground was dry and the colors of the trees turned from green to blue, red, and violet. It would become winter soon so now would be a beautiful time to travel back to Shadestar. She didn’t have any research to do; she just wanted to get away from Midpeak and the constant reminder of the war. Usually on these trips, Lacey would take Aurora. The Drow felt as out of place in Midpeak as Lacey did, so they spent much of their time together. But this trip Lacey wanted the world to herself, some time alone to decide what she wanted to do with the season that was on her.

She let everyone know she was going alone and she would be back in a few days. Lacey packed her things, making sure to have plenty of crowns for the city. Living in the big cities of the Eastern Kingdoms was more expensive than Midpeak.

She walked to the edge of town to a small little hill so everyone possible could see the magic of the Shadow Walk. It was vain and immature, but Lacey got a thrill seeing the looks on the faces of the townsfolk and especially the refugees as they watched her vanish.

• • •

Shadestar was one of those magnificent eastern cities that inspire Songweavers’ poems. The city was vast by Lacey’s standards, though not as large as many in the eastern kingdoms. The main attraction of the city was that it lay on the coast of the Green Sea. That vast body of water, which led to unknown lands, had the most breathtaking color of green. It's hard to describe, but the green was bright like the sun through spring leaves, but not so bright that it hurts the eyes. There was a soothing, rhythmic feel to the color.

Lacey stayed at an inn that overlooks the ocean called, fittingly, the Mermaid. It's an expensive place to stay, costing two gold crowns a day for a standard size room. For that sum, back west you could get eight rooms a day. But she loved the view and the inn. She could take walks on the beach at sunrise. It was just a beautiful place to be. And since the group had settled in Midpeak their fortune as a whole had grown. Lacey could afford the luxury, so she figured, why not?

The people here in the city did not carry weapons out in the open. No swords slung on hips or quivers carried on backs. Lacey was sure many of them had weapons on them, but it wasn’t flaunted openly. The metropolis was about as safe as any could be. It was patrolled by the city guards. There was a Knight of the Rose outpost here. The city even had a fleet of warships in case of attacks by sea. Because of the ‘no weapons’ policy Lacey did not carry the Shadow Staff. She found out by accident that if she had M’illaskavar in her hand and said the magical words to call the staff to this world, it would reverse the process and it would disappear. She still carried a small dagger under her robes in case she was caught off guard and could not send for the staff. Penn and the blacksmith in Midpeak had made the dagger to fit her hand and made it easy to use. And Rollin had given her lessons on how to use it.

After Lacey arrived at the city and paid for a room at the inn, she took the short walk to the Rising Sun, the library that has been so helpful in her magical research.

“Ah Mithavan’ara-Khan, so wonderful to see you again,” Said Conanus. There was no official head of this particular library, but Conanus served in that role and the others that worked in the archives looked to him for guidance.

Lacey bowed, “I am glad to be back.”

Conanus was excited, “I have information for you.”

Over the time the young mage had spent at the library, she had made requests to Conanus, questions she could not answer. Questions about the staff were first on Lacey’s list. She also had asked about the stone dagger the changeling used. Finally, she had asked about information on the Lost City, Ibrenevall.

“Excellent, Conanus, what is it?”

“Follow me, Milady.” Conanus led Lacey down the back stairs to what they called the ‘lost collection’. There were large piles of miscellaneous writings, uncatalogued scrolls, and books that were too damaged to be available to the public. Lacey had never been to the cellar to see the lost collection. She spent much of her time above ground, mainly on the second floor where they kept a vast number of history books about Xenkur.

“This book here. This may be exactly what we’ve been looking for, “Conanus said. “I believe it was in the library in Heartwater when it was sacked by the Pirate Clans. They burned the library, but some things survived.”

He placed the half-burned book on the table. “Much of the text is charred, but see here, it describes a dagger, having a stone handle rather than steel.”

The Xewar in Bagdarul had a special proce…

A blade…

The handle made of stone. Daggranit stone I believe. The rock is rare. It… and prevents …magic

used for execution of wizards and those with…

…magical powers…”

“Sounds like the dagger, doesn’t it?” Conanus was gleeful.

“Yes, I’d say that’s the dagger. But what are Xewar and where is Bagdarul? I’ve never heard either of these names before.”

Conanus smiled, “Well, I don’t know. I've had maps from before and after the Devastation checked twice and there is no Bagdarul on them. And we are still checking for references to Xewar.” Conanus was pleased with his work. Lacey noticed over the years he always found great satisfaction in solving mysteries and riddles.

“That is excellent work, my friend.”

Conanus smiled again, “Oh, but that’s not the spectacular news. That’s just a footnote as we say.” He pulled out a huge book from a pile on the table.” This is the real information.”

The large red leather bound book had no title or author on its outside. The cover had only a symbol, a circle with a vertical line through it—the same symbol Lacey wore around her neck, the holy symbol of Embis, goddess of Shadow.

“The title page is missing, but it's written by Rekvia Darcva’ater in the year 19 B.C. (Before the Cataclysm)” Conanus said. “Look here at the front of the book; there are handwritten notes.”

The note reads:

I fear I am the last of the bloodline. The Shadowmages of this world will be extinct before the coming of the great ruin. I have moved my family out of Ibrenevall to a safe place north of the Blackwater River. There is a large lake there that should be a good place for my generations to settle. My only child will go with them since I must stay here. I cannot bear more offspring so my son must somehow carry on the blood of the shadow. It has never been passed to a male, but I must have hope. I’ve been praying to Embis for such a miracle.

I have separated the artifact into two pieces. I will send one part with the family.

Davda, when you find this book take it and my journals to my family's bloodline on the shores of the lake. Protect my son.

“What's the book about?” Lacey asked.

Conanus smiled, “M’illaskavar.”

“So who is this woman Rekvia Darcva’ater?”

“We're not sure, but here's where it gets interesting. The book is written in Amnaric, the dialect of the Lost City of Ibrenevall.”

“So I have to learn Amnaric.”

“I think you should.” Conanus was beaming.

“Why, what's so special about this book?”

“Not the book, but the person who wrote it. The woman’s last name is Darcva’ater. In the language of the Amnaric people it means, the dark water.”